Chapter Two

"They're British. Of Course There's Tea."

Snape didn't know how Remus Lupin had found out that Harry was leaving No. 4 Privet Drive, let alone that the brat would demand to be taken to Headquarters; he might have assumed that the werewolf had spontaneously developed psychic powers if not for his long association with Trelawney having disillusioned him to that possibility altogether. After breathing in that horrendous incense and having to listen to endless lectures on 'inner eyes' for over a decade, Snape had become a bigger skeptic than McGonagall, which was saying something.

Lupin was waiting for them in the kitchen with tea already set out. "Severus, Harry," he inclined his head. "Would you like to sit down to some tea?"

Snape curled his lip and was about to say 'No, I would not like some of your tea,' in the most insulting way he could manage. Then he noticed that there were only two cups on the table. The invitation hadn't included him. He stalked his way to the floo, hearing distantly behind him a polite, "Hello Professor Lupin."

He left before he could hear the reply.

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"He's in a nasty mood," Remus said wryly. Grief still marked his features with harsh lines, but his voice held hints of humour that Harry found heartening.

"He's a nasty sort," Harry responded cheerily. "Why was he the one to get me from the Dursleys? I thought Order wizards would've been around – and less likely to have been compromised by being in my presence."

Remus chuckled. "Order wizards wouldn't have been able to breach the protective wards on your relatives' house long enough to knock on the door. As a faculty member of your school, Severus has the capability – though he's strictly monitored through charms, and if he had tried to Apparate with you, would quickly find himself in Ministry custody. Authorized port-keys are fine, however." He raised a brow. "So, why was he so upset?"

Harry smiled. It was the exact same smile that Lily used to wear when contemplating all the horrible things she'd do to humiliate James in front of his friends. Seeing it made Remus nostalgic. "Oh, probably because he didn't have to knock on the door."

Remus frowned quizzically at the cryptic answer, but didn't bother to demand clarification. "Albus sent me over here when it became apparent that you weren't going to Hogwarts. Was there any reason why you wanted to come… here?"

"Yes," Harry said. He sipped cautiously at the steaming tea, then craned his head to look around inquisitively. "Are there any biscuits?"

Remus motioned impatiently with his wand to the cupboard above the stove. It opened, and a package levitated out to travel through the air and eventually rest on the table in front of Harry.

"Ta," Harry thanked him. He opened the package and pulled out a sweet meditatively, dipping it in his tea to turn it soggy before eating it slowly.

Once that one was done, he took another. Then another. And another. All eaten with the same deliberate movements; all eaten slowly, methodically.

Remus almost snorted from the amusement alone – it was obvious that Harry was trying to bait him. Not a terribly clever thing to do with a werewolf, but they both knew that there was no way Remus would ever harm Harry. "Would there be any chance, any remote possibility that you'd tell me why you wanted to come here?"

Harry paused in his contemplation of a soggy biscuit. "No," he decided. "Most likely not." When he raised his eyes to look Remus in the face, Remus was struck by the horribly saddened light in them; and he became aware, tangibly aware, that he wasn't the only one still grieving. He reached out one scarred hand and patted Harry comfortingly on the wrist.

"All right," he said. "All right."

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Albus was waiting for him in his office, beaming with a mug of mint tea at the ready and a dish of sherbet lemons. Snape let his customary sneer control his features; otherwise he'd look pathetically grateful, and he'd been embarrassed enough already in his adolescence at the hands of Black and Potter to last him through the whole rest of his life.

"He's safely ensconced at Headquarters," Snape informed the Headmaster brusquely, sitting down across from the old man with an inaudible sigh. "Last I saw, Lupin was with him."

"Yes, I know," Dumbledore replied. His twinkle remained undiminished. "I sent him there. Unfortunately, he cannot remain for much longer – there's a mission I must send him on, much like the one Hagrid completed for me last year. This means that I must ask a favour from you once again, Severus."

Snape's eyes narrowed. Horrible suspicion lashed within him, and he bared his teeth in a snarl. "Oh, no. No. Bloody hell no."

"Language," Dumbledore warned, still twinkling. "Of course if you find the prospect so unbearable, I will have no choice but to bring Harry to Hogwarts against his will. Certainly his relatives' home would be unfit for him, given its nonexistent state; I wonder how long Hogwarts will last?"

Oh, this was not to be borne! First Potter was making threats – and now, now the Headmaster was doing so as well! For Albus Dumbledore knew that the one thing Snape was most possessive and protective of was what he considered his first, and true, home. Hogwarts. Snape would not permit anything to harm the castle he'd come to think of as his sanctuary. "How do you know of Potter's actions?" Snape questioned stiffly.

"Ah, a while ago, I set his wards to also allow me to hear everything that occurs within them. In case of attack." Dumbledore smiled cheerily, expression completely at odds with his words. "Here, would you like a listen? It's most fascinating, what Muggles will do to quench a fire."

Without waiting for Snape's assent, Dumbledore tapped his wand to a spherical object on his desk .The room was suddenly filled with the sound of water gushing.

"MY STUFF!" a young, adolescent male's voice screamed out in genuine agony. "MUM, ALL MY STUFF IS BURNING!"

"Now, now, Dudders," a quavering woman's voice soothed. "It'll be all right. It's all replaceable. Don't worry, my sweet."

"That's right, we'll move!" This was a voice Snape could recognize, having heard it only a scant hour and a half before. It was still strangely jovial; upbeat. Snape frowned. A man who had just lost everything he'd ever owned should not be this cheerful. "Far, far away. Where he – er, no one will find us. Ever."

Dumbledore tapped his wand against the sphere again. The sound abruptly stopped. "Fascinating bit of charm-work, isn't it? Lily was just developing it before she went into hiding, and then Sylph Lovegood took over where she left off. I believe she had plans to refine it further… before that rather unfortunate accident."

Snape snorted. Only Dumbledore would refer to a failed attempt to summon a demon – one of the most ancient of all magics – that resulted in the rending to shreds of what used to be a human body as an 'unfortunate accident'. Snape really didn't want to know what the young prodigy/idiot had in mind when she cast that spell, and could only hope that her daughter did not follow the same path. He felt fairy secure in that wish, actually, having had Luna Lovegood as a student for the past four years. She tended to the abstract more than the practical… almost annoyingly so, but no matter. "Enough with the chit-chat," he said harshly to Albus. "You're going to require this of me no matter what my preference, aren't you?"

Dumbledore shook his head wordlessly. "Of course not. There are always more options than the one that appears clearest. If you truly find the idea of spending the remaining three weeks of holiday at Headquarters in the company of a teenaged wizard so abhorrent, I would not force it on you. I would, of course, have to exhaust other resources in order to provide adequate protection for him… and inconvenience other Order members… and throw operation schedules off their timing… but I would not force you."

Snape's eyes narrowed in impotent rage. The old man was good. Instead of threats, now it was guilt. He marked himself a sad Slytherin that he couldn't even avoid this manipulation – for manipulation it was, and rather obvious at that – and found himself nodding his head. "All right," he growled in disgust. "Seeing as I have no urgent projects, I shall do as you ask."

Dumbledore beamed brightly. "Excellent!"

Snape quickly drained his tea and surreptitiously pocketed a few sherbet lemons. "I must pack," he said, standing abruptly and sweeping majestically from the office.

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"You know," Remus remarked casually as he took away Harry's cup to be washed, "you might want to invest a little more effort into getting along with Professor Snape. If I'm guessing right, when I have to go tomorrow, it'll be him that comes to take my place."

"Oh?" Harry's green eyes glowed with an intrigued light. He smiled in a way that was almost predatory – a smile full of gleaming teeth that wasn't quite a smile at all. "That should be… interesting."

Hi! waves I wanna thank all of my reviewers! I lovethe positive feedback!

duj - Not quite. You'll see what I mean in a few chapters or so... but our young Mr. Potter's not as bad as he seems, trust me!

Cressida Aliora - Thanks bunches! Is this soon enough for you?

AwesomePossum - Yay! I loved your review! It was beyond awesome... I hope I continue to be worthy of your sunglasses.

djdeb - Hehe, yeah, I hoped someone would like that last line! Thanks a lot!

Clodia - Heh, just wait till you see what happens a few chapters from now!

Madness - Yep, he did indeed... Or did he? (A li'l hint of foreshadowing... melodramatic DUN DUN DUN)

mb - Heh, yeah, it was awesome writing Snape twitching out... trying to figure out just how to deal with Harry... little does he know, it'll only get worse from here on out! Hope this is soon enough for you! return hug